Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left leg cellulitis, disability of the feet, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability, were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically his degenerative changes of the left and right knees, status post total arthroplasty, are currently rated at 60 percent each. This decision grants increased evaluations for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his bilateral knees or left arm disorders are related to military service, and that his right shoulder disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. His hearing loss was also denied as being unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a low back disorder or right knee disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left femur fracture, which was previously rated at 30%, has been granted and now carries a 60% evaluation. The claim for arthritis of the left knee is also granted with a separate 10% evaluation. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disability of the spine and right knee were denied. The Board found that arthritis of the spine and right knee did not manifest within one year of separation from active service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current right knee disorder was incurred in or otherwise the result of his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's claimed right knee and right foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee and brain tumor with memory loss are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder other than Osgood-Schlatter disease in December 2004. The Veteran's claim to reopen the case was received on February 28, 2005, and he was granted service connection for his left knee disability effective from that date.

The Board denied service connection for chronic knee and elbow pain, attributing it to known clinical diagnoses of degenerative joint disease and epicondylitis. The Veteran's complaints were not related to an undiagnosed illness or the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral knee replacement, which he claims is related to an injury sustained during active military service. The claim is being remanded due to the need to verify the Veteran's service in his unit at the time of the claimed incident and to provide a VA examination to determine if any current bilateral knee disorder is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder other than Osgood-Schlatter disease in December 2004, finding no relationship between the current condition and the Veteran's military service. The Veteran argued that the decision was incorrect due to missing or overlooked records.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee tendonitis is productive of complaints that include pain, but not moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's in-service knee injury did not result in a chronic condition, and thus could not be presumed to have caused his current left knee disorder. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's present left knee arthritis was not due to or aggravated by his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, effective from October 1999. The current ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.